News Round Up: Tabard Slot, Pugging 4.0 Content, and STARS Exploits

So now that the dust has settled from 4.2's eerily smooth launch, it's back to raiding and waiting to see what 4.3 will bring. While we wait, though, we have some interesting blue posts and a round up of what's been going on so far.

On some servers, the new dailies have been resetting. A lot. Many players are already on or about to be on the third stage. If you find yourself up at 3AM when dailies should reset on your server, they may reset again at 4AM and then again at 5AM. Hopefully it gets straightened out.

Daily quests aside, there are some even bigger "exploits" rumored to be happening right now that's got the PvE scene worked up. The well-known guild STARS decided to kill Ragnaros like many of us did--his death is required before you can begin heroic modes, much like how ICC had the LK as a gating mechanic for heroics. Unlike the rest of us, however, they took it a step farther when right after their kill the entire guild faction transferred to reset their raid lock, forming a new guild. This is clearly not an intended use of game mechanic and, in the past, when guilds have done this it's been called exploiting. They've already killed some heroic bosses as supposed world firsts. Of course, the "raiding community" as a whole will not take this too seriously and the world firsts they net will most likely not be tracked, but it's a lot of money and dedication for apparently nothing. (Edit: Officially confirmed as an exploit, as Blizzard hotfixed it so they cannot touch other heroic bosses.)

June 30 Hotfixes

June 30

Dungeons & Raids

Dungeon Finder

It is no longer possible for two separate guild groups with less than five players each to be matched with any other groups or players in the queue from the same guild.

Flamewaker Subjugator, Flamewaker Animator, and Unstable Magma health has been reduced. Flamewaker Subjugator damage has been increased for 25-player raids.

Tabard Tab

A tabard tab has been a desired feature ever since they came out. It's quite possible it could be on the way for 4.3--Bashiok dropped a first hint that it's being considered, which is usually how awesome features get snuck into the next patch. At least they are not dodging the question any longer.

Are there any considerations for a tab for your tabards?

Yes!

4.0 Puggable Now

We specifically intend for the 4.0 raids to be puggable now that Firelands is out. Grabbing some tier 11 by way of Justice, quest rewards, plus across the board difficulty nerfs should really be enough to get them going.

The patch has only been out a day or so though. I think it'll probably take a little bit before people really get it into their heads that they should be pugging the previous tier because it's not too hard to be successful. It's just getting people used to the various encounters and mechanics.

Maybe people are waiting for the holiday weekend? If nothing else, leading one yourself is always an option. I think we'd agree that we need some better ways to get pug raids together considering we intend to follow the "New Raid is Hard, old Tier is Puggable" format from here on.

Dungeon Journal: Disappointing or Useful?

Now that the dungeon journal is out, people have been giving their feedback. It's still leaving a lot to be desired for some players, while others are calling it a raid saver.

Does Blizzard plan on adding the rest of the dungeons and raids to the Dungeon Journal?

Absolutely. With the time it takes to present a single boss in the Dungeon Journal we were only confident supplying Cataclysm content with the release of the feature in 4.2, but we are on a path to filling it out with all dungeons and raids in the entire game.

Thrall and Aggra

Orc traditions are a little different than we're used to, apparently.

Actually...I'm pretty sure what you saw counted as the 'wedding'. Things work differently in orc society.

Correct. Their pledging of their lives to one another was essentially their 'wedding', although I'm sure Orcs don't use such nomenclature to refer to these things. Maybe 'life bond' fits better.

Comments

Comment by No2mad2

on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 19:47:47 -0500

Squee! Tabard Tab!

Comment by OverZealous

on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 19:50:23 -0500

■Daily quests aside, there are some even bigger exploits rumored to be happening right now that's got the PvE scene in a tizzy. The well-known guild STARS decided to kill Ragnaros like many of us did--his death is required before you can begin heroic modes, much like how ICC had the LK as a gating mechanic for heroics. Unlike the rest of us, however, they took it a step farther when right after their kill the entire guild faction transferred to reset their raid lock, forming a new guild. They've already killed some heroic bosses as supposed world firsts. Of course, the "raiding community" as a whole will not take this too seriously and the world firsts they net will most likely not be tracked, but it's a lot of money and dedication...for apparently nothing.

They're chinese.

But yeah, a tab for Tabards would be excellent and a much welcome addition! Hope to see it soon(tm).

Comment by buzz3070

on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 19:51:14 -0500

In the voice of nelson from the Simpsons to STARS " ha, ha!"

Comment by Adamsm

on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 19:52:09 -0500

Soon for that tabard tab.

Comment by Ashelia

on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 19:54:51 -0500

■Daily quests aside, there are some even bigger exploits rumored to be happening right now that's got the PvE scene in a tizzy. The well-known guild STARS decided to kill Ragnaros like many of us did--his death is required before you can begin heroic modes, much like how ICC had the LK as a gating mechanic for heroics. Unlike the rest of us, however, they took it a step farther when right after their kill the entire guild faction transferred to reset their raid lock, forming a new guild. They've already killed some heroic bosses as supposed world firsts. Of course, the "raiding community" as a whole will not take this too seriously and the world firsts they net will most likely not be tracked, but it's a lot of money and dedication...for apparently nothing.

They're chinese

But yeah, a tab for Tabards would be excellent and a much welcome addition! Hope to see it soon(tm).

I think you misread us as in "us raiders" as US?

Comment by OmegaRevan

on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 19:59:10 -0500

@STARS members... ROFLMAO!

Comment by OverZealous

on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 20:03:01 -0500

■Daily quests aside, there are some even bigger exploits rumored to be happening right now that's got the PvE scene in a tizzy. The well-known guild STARS decided to kill Ragnaros like many of us did--his death is required before you can begin heroic modes, much like how ICC had the LK as a gating mechanic for heroics. Unlike the rest of us, however, they took it a step farther when right after their kill the entire guild faction transferred to reset their raid lock, forming a new guild. They've already killed some heroic bosses as supposed world firsts. Of course, the "raiding community" as a whole will not take this too seriously and the world firsts they net will most likely not be tracked, but it's a lot of money and dedication...for apparently nothing.

They're chinese

But yeah, a tab for Tabards would be excellent and a much welcome addition! Hope to see it soon(tm).

I think you misread us as in "us raiders" as US?

No, I was simply making a joke based on the stereotype that chinese people are insane.

Which they are.

No offense.

Not that there aren't other insane guilds, but that's just hilarious ^^

Comment by Xebenatros

on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 20:06:18 -0500

STARS members.....all I can say is.....WHY?

Comment by Xxrrsteve

on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 21:02:22 -0500

Weren't STARS the ones who gave Paragon flak for the 11 druid Nefarian kill? Talk about hypocrisy.

Comment by Interest

on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 21:10:49 -0500

&*!@ I wish I could play...

Need...to do dailies...

Comment by Suonevar

on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 22:20:40 -0500

Its the Chinese prisoners i tell ya! It was them all along!

Comment by bratboy186

on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 22:39:38 -0500

if this news was about the STARS members killing undead, this would have made me lmao

Comment by FoxySoxx

on Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:53:56 -0500

originally posted byBashiok

Actually...I'm pretty sure what you saw counted as the 'wedding'. Things work differently in orc society.

Correct. Their pledging of their lives to one another was essentially their 'wedding', although I'm sure Orcs don't use such nomenclature to refer to these things. Maybe 'life bond' fits better.

Can anyone tell me where Mankrik's Thrall's wife is?

Comment by Adamsm

on Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:58:10 -0500

originally posted byBashiok

Actually...I'm pretty sure what you saw counted as the 'wedding'. Things work differently in orc society.

Correct. Their pledging of their lives to one another was essentially their 'wedding', although I'm sure Orcs don't use such nomenclature to refer to these things. Maybe 'life bond' fits better.

And please no, don't make them life bonded couples just say they are mates just like Durotan and Dakka were.

Comment by Ohnashte

on Fri, 01 Jul 2011 01:46:21 -0500

Why don't we wait for Blizzard to say whether or not this counts as an exploit before we write a sensational headline about it?

Comment by ArgentSun

on Fri, 01 Jul 2011 02:44:07 -0500

The dailies resetting is probably the worst thing for me. Stage 2 is the longest and getting to skip half of it because of glitched dailies is a real bummer :(

Comment by Gnub

on Fri, 01 Jul 2011 03:49:50 -0500

Squee! Tabard Tab!

Tab-ard* :)

Comment by Ashelia

on Fri, 01 Jul 2011 04:08:56 -0500

Why don't we wait for Blizzard to say whether or not this counts as an exploit before we write a sensational headline about it?

Considering blizzard upped faction transfer queues, as a quick fix, it is an exploit. Wowprogress may not dock, though, as they didn't dock when my guild server transferred during LK and accidentally got more attempts.

Comment by atomicwolf22

on Fri, 01 Jul 2011 04:38:53 -0500

Honestly I think there do the same thing to Stars that they did to (name excapes me) with there LK kill and the Saronite Bombs thing.

I have also read about a GM jumping into there Raid and kicking them and putting them in a raid lockout for the rest of the week. I'm not sure if thats all that going to happen or not I'm sure Blizzard will inform us about want there going to do when they choose to do so.

Also I want my Bloodknight Tab-ard on my Alliance Pally. I went threw the Quest Chain and gold I want my tab-ard. When she was horde.

Comment by Interest

on Fri, 01 Jul 2011 09:40:00 -0500

STARS members.....all I can say is.....WHY?

The transfer --> save reset trick isn't exactly anything new. In fact, I thought they fixed it back during tier 9 or tier 10.